Arguably James Blake’s most out-and-out dancefloor orientated work yet, ‘Before’ is a reminder of what we’re missing under lockdown.
Songs designed for the live arena translate solidly to record on Sea Girls’ debut ‘Open Up Your Head’.
On their fourth album ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’, The 1975’s ambition often exceeds their grasp, sounding like a poorly curated playlist.
While it wears its Springsteen influences a little too heavily at times, ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ demonstrates Sam Fender’s storytelling qualities in abundance.
Quite aside from the backlash it’s generated, ‘No Man’s Land’ certainly represents an over-extension of Frank Turner’s emotional resources.
While it’s beautifully produced and often enjoyably OTT, Friendly Fires’ third record ‘Inflorescent’ isn’t worth the massive eight-year wait.
Kaiser Chiefs once accurately expressed dissatisfaction with the modern world, but now that 2019 is genuinely a mess, they’re making prosaic, generic ‘anthems’ with no distinguishing qualities.
‘Assume Form’ is not the kind of cold and subdued album for which many have pigeonholed James Blake, but a warm release, full of intricate hooks and devastating lyricism.
Listening to The 1975 trying to actively forge an intelligent, overarching statement in an era when sincerity has long since died makes ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’ arguably the most relevant pop album this decade.
A key marker in the evolution of the British post-punk and goth scenes, Siouxsie & The Banshees’ 1978 debut album ‘The Scream’ is brilliantly and darkly compelling.
